Tips on How to Keep a Dog From Marking His Territory

There are not many behavior issues more frustrating than a dog that lifts its leg repeatedly and on the items you care about. As frustrating as this behavior can be, it is quite natural for dogs to want to mark their territory, especially when this behavior is carried out by intact males and females. There are several strategies and tips to use to reduce this annoying behavior

  1. See Your Veterinarian

    • A health check will rule out medical conditions.

      If a perfectly house trained dog suddenly starts urinating in the home or if your dog has started urinating outdoors on a more frequent basis, it is a good idea to have the dog seen by a veterinarian to rule out medical causes. According to the ASPCA, there are several medical issues to rule out before pointing at your dog for unruly behavior. Urinary tract infections, incontinence and diseases known for causing urinary problems are a few conditions you may want to exclude.

    Neuter or Spay Your Dog

    • If you own an intact dog, the predisposition to mark is much stronger. Intact males will often mark much more when they sense a female is in heat or when they are in presence of rival males. Intact females will start to mark when they approach their heat cycle, so to advertise their availability. Spaying and neutering, according to the ASPCA, may reduce the chances of household urine marking in 50 to 60 percent of cases. Make sure to have it done before a dog reaches maturity, recommends dog trainer Cinimon Clark.

    Fence Your Yard

    • Urine marking is often triggered by other dogs or animals entering the dog's territory. If other dogs have access to areas your dog frequents, chances are high your dog will mark over them over and over. To reduce this form of marking, fence your yard with a private fence. Private fences also help reduce your dog's visual access to other dogs, something that may help reduce the marking considerably.

    Neutralize Those Odors

    • Dogs are quite ritualistic animals. If you watch your dog carefully, you will notice that he will mark the same areas over and over, especially after the rain has removed traces of his odor on selected items. One main trigger of this marking is that the previous smells attract your dog, therefore neutralizing these smells with a good odor remover with enzymes may help break the marking cycle.

    Catch him in the act

    • Try to deter your dog by making him associate the act of urinating with something unpleasant. To work well, timing is of the essence. The moment you notice his intent to mark, clap your hands loud, spray your dog, or toss a can filled with coins across the floor to startle your dog. This may work if you are consistent in catching him in the act. If your dog urinates successfully in your absence with no negative event, he will soon learn that bad things happen only when he urinates in your presence.

    Invest in a Belly Band

    • If your dog has a tendency to mark in your home, one tool you may want to ultimately resort to when all other methods have failed is a belly band. Belly bands, also known as male dog wraps, consist of a cloth that wraps around the dog's belly area and prevents the dog from soiling the home. This wrap does not stop the dog from marking, but its layers will prevent any urine from leaking into the home.